A national debt charity has urged people across the borough to seek advice after new figures revealed residents owe £2.3 million in unpaid council tax.

National Debtline, the free advice service run by the Money Advice Trust, believe the shock figure is evidence too few residents who are struggling to keep up with bills are receiving the debt advice they need.

Residents in Hinckley and Bosworth owed £2,273,000 in unpaid council tax bills as of March 31 this year – equivalent to an average of £48 per dwelling. The figure is up from £1,985,000 on the previous year.

A total of 255 calls for help with debt were made from the Hinckley and Bosworth area to National Debtline last year, with residents receiving free advice on how to resolve their financial difficulties.

After seeking advice from the charity-run service, 80% of people say they feel more in control of their finances, with 98% clear about the next steps they need to take to deal with their situation.

The charity, which also offers free online advice at www.nationaldebtline.org, says that council tax is now the fastest growing type of problem debt it is helping clients to resolve – with 24% of all callers now in arrears, up from 14% in 2007.

Joanna Elson, chief executive of the Money Advice Trust, said: “We are seeing more and more people seek help with council tax arrears – but the fact that Hinckley and Bosworth residents owe £2.3 million makes us concerned that many more people in the area are struggling alone. Free debt advice services such as National Debtline are here to help.

“We would like to see local authorities do everything they can to help residents who are falling behind to seek the free advice that can turn their lives around. We know that that the earlier a problem is caught, the better the outcome.

“I would urge anyone in Hinckley and Bosworth who is struggling to make their council tax payments to contact National Debtline as soon as possible. Our expert advisers are on hand to work through your situation and help you get back on track with your finances.”

For more information, visit www.nationaldebtline.org or call 0808 808 4000.